LABOUR UNREST

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 22

LABOUR UNREST

(By Cable.) TRAMWAYMEN AND MINERS. -LONDON, April 5. The tramway workers in Manchester, Salford, Oldham, Huddersneld, Cardiff, LJanelly, and Swansea, by rejecting the recent settlement offer, have rendered the services in those towns idle. The Scottish Miners' Conference at Glasgow advised the rejection of the Government's offer to the miners, while the Durham Miners' Executive advised the acceptance of the offer. EXAMPLE OF DIRECT ACTION. PARIS, April 8. A seamen's strike of 24 hours, beginning to-day, has been organised in Marseilles and Le Havre, with a desire to paralyse the trade of the ports. The strike is not due to any wages dispute, but is an example of direct action, it being intended to force the Government to release the sailors who mutinied aboard French warships to the Black Sea. INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY. LONDON, April 5. The Independent Labour Party's conference at Glasgow is expected to define its attitude towards unionism. Acute differences exist on this subject in the ranks. The party is also in financial difficulties. Accounts show a deficit of £2OOO on the year's working, as the party lost heavily in the recent by-elections. The Independent Labour Conference rejected by a two to one majority a proposal for immediate affiliation with the Moscow Internationale, but recommended the Swiss Council to arrange a conference for the purpose of formulating a basis for an all-inclusive Internationale Central.

AMERICAN RAILWAY STRIKE. WASHINGTON, April 9. The railway strike, which was started without the union's authorisation by insurgent switchmen in the Chicago district, suddenly spread,, all over the country. Industries in many sections of the country are closing down through inability to obtain coal supplies. It is estimated that there are 25,000 men striking.. The Justice Department has started an investigation to determine whether it is possible to force a cessation of the strike under the existing legislation. Throughout the country it is believed that the strike presages the long-awaited struggle between the Radicals and Conservatives in the Labour ranks. The union officials in Chicago have appealed to the Government to make an effort to force the men back. NEW YORK, April 9. Nearly 50,000 railroad workers in more than 15 cities from New York to San Francisco are on strike, demanding increased pay. The strike is not authorised by the union officials. Chicago and New York are facing a serious food shortage. The officials declare that the railroad traffic is only 50 per cent, of the normal. More than 25 railroads are affected. April 10. The employees of the Hudson and Manhattan tubes voted to go on strike this morning, thus completely tieing up New York suburban traffic. The New York Times Cleveland correspondent says : A statement has been signed by the chiefs of four large transportation brotherhoods, declaring that the purpose of the present strike is to destroy the railway brotherhoods of the United States and to promote the single union idea. BRITISH RAILWAYMEN. LONDON, April 9. The railwaymen have applied for an allround increase of £1 per week, apart from the increases from the sliding scale. The executive of the National Union of Railwaymen states that general dissatisfaction with the small increase under th e sliding scale exists. It is inadequate to meet the extra cost of living. Moreover, the Court of Inquiry with reference to the dockers recommends a minimum wage of 16s per day, and the miners have been offered a minimum increase of 2s per day. SERIOUS STRIKE IN ITALY. ROME, April 6. Strikers at San Matteo, near Bologna, surrounded the carabineers, who fired 40 shots into the crowd, killing eight persons, including the strike leader, and wounding 20. The affray may have far-reaching consequences, as the General Confederation of Labour has called an emergency meeting with a view to taking united action. April 7. Following on yesterday's conflict *" a general strike has been declared in Bologna. QUESTION OF SATURDAY WORK. SYDNEY, April 8. The Industrial Court dismissed an application by the master builders calling upon the Bricklayers' Union to show cause why they should not be dealt with for refusing 'to work on Saturdays, as the summons was improperly issued. Leave was given, however, to issue a fresh summons. April 11. A congress representing 70 unions decided upon common action to introduce the 44-hour week, with no Saturday work. —A. and N.Z. Cable. MELBOURNE, April 9. A meeting of the Printers' Union decided to strike a weekly levy of 10 per cent, of the earning of male members to be used for securing a 44-hour week. The meeting also recommended the -abolition of overtime.

RAILWAYMEN'S WAGES. MELBOURNE, April 9. The State Cabinet has adopted a basic wages of lis 9d a day in the Victorian. railway service. This will involve an additional expenditure of £668,000 a year. BUILDING TRADE STRIKE. ADELAIDE, April 10. The building trade is at. a standstill owing to a strike of builders' labourers, who are demanding 15s per day.